For Realz?

So I went to a baby shower this weekend (fiy if you ever have host a baby shower - skip the games and have the wine and food flowing - it was all kinds of amazing!) 

I got a lot of praise while working on the leaf blanket I made for Clilfford's cousin - and not wanting to let go of that ( I am a sucker for it), I decided to make it again - and bask in some more glory

This is what I get for being full of myself  - she got the same blanket from someone else! What are the chances of that? I did not look closely at the second one - I am sure it out shined mine x10000 

but for serious...the same blanket!!! lol - but I still love it  - and babies need all things in multiples - they make a lot of messes :)

> Jessi

Gone Fishing

Here is a fun quick project I cooked up for a couple of youngn's birthdays.

DIY Fishing Game:

-knit fish using this pattern

- seam together and stuff bodies ( I didn't bother stuffing the tails)

- with yarn sew on a nut to the mouth area of each fish (this was a happy mistake, I had planned to put them on the inside, but the magnet couldn't pick it up -  so it worked out well since it kind of looks like a fish mouth!) 

- Tie a length of twine to a wooden dowl

-Glue two magnets together on either side of the twine

and voila! 
This is a great way to use of some of those yarn scraps

Happy Fishing :)

>  Jessi

Knitting Project > Head Wrap

Happy Thursday! It's been a bit of a busy week here. Clifford is on his last stretch of school before exam time, Easter is fast approaching  and there are 3 birthdays this weekend (1 grown up, 2 kids) + Emilie and I have a chocolate gala to attend (I know you are feeling my pain... my life is hard!) What is keeping you busy right now?


Sometimes though, the busier things are the more productive I am :)

Here's a quick project I did awhile ago - I should probably post before it's full on spring
This head wrap would be a great project for a beginner - it is straight knitting, no purling and it takes about an hour.

 > Jessi

Knitting > Leaf Baby Blanket

I haven't done a knitting post in a while, I have a few projects on the go, and spend a good chunk of time making the same cowl for friends. 

Clifford's cousin is having a baby girl in April so I thought I'd try making a blanket. I found this super cute pattern on Ravelry. I am really happy with except it came out a little small, so I think I will add some pattern repeats if  I make it again.

> Jessi

Japanese Sweaters

If anything was going to inspire me to learn how to read Japanese, it's this sweater book! 

So creative and beautiful!

>this one is my fave!!!

>Cassie

WIP: Hats!

I've been making hats like crazy lately this one is on hold until I finish the little beret I'm working on. It's kind of a wig/hat hybrid for one of my neices and it looks totally redic. 

I am loving working with this fingering weight wool! It knits up so pretty...but I hate using the tiniest needles in my arsenal. Things take forever to take shape!

>Cassie

Bandana Cowl

I had a bunch of this crazy yarn that I picked up at one of our craft swaps that I didn't know what to do with.  I actually wasn't even sure what weight it was until I looked it up.  Turns out it was bulky and I ended up making the Bandana Cowl from The Purl Bee.

I thought it's simple shape and textures would calm this busy yarn and I think it did...and even though I had two different colorways I still think it looks great.  Pretty sure my sister's going to claim this project too!

Slouchy Sister Hat

 When my sister Shmem saw the Noro Furin yarn I bought this summer, she got so excited! She's a multi-coloured kind of gal, so I made her this Slouchy Hat with Picot Edging. Knit up super fast and It looks so good on her!

The face she made when I said "Smile or I'll tickle you"

Slouchy to the max!

Colours galore :)

>Cassie

Trendy Turban

I really wanted to find a seed stitch turban or head wrap pattern, 

but I couldn't find one on Ravelry. So I made my own and now I can share it with you! 

It was super easy...Enjoy readers!
Pattern Here!

>Cassie

Knitting Project > Boot Toppers

What more Cabling?? I am sure I will get my fill soon and maybe I will try something with lots of colour work...err.. that sounds hard and I think I  will stick with the feeling of over confidence 1 colour gives me :)

Anyways...Love these you can make them look like part of your boots or un fold them and they look like you have big long socks on (the mock turtle neck of the sock world- very cool sounding eh?) I also wear them around my ankles for extra warmth in our old drafty house.

> Jessi

Knitting Project > Cowl

I mentioned I was obsessed with cabling, I learned on this really quick cowl pattern. I was able to start and finish this at home without any help from my fellow Stich n' Bitcher's, I think it's safe to say I may be an intermediate knitter - and not a beginner anymore :)  

 >Jessi

Moving Forward in 2012

Ok I'm ready! Time to get back on track. First order of business - get my Christmas Knitting projects up before it's way to late to be sharing them:

Rosalie Scarf: this was for my sister in law. It was actually a fun knitting project and I was really happy with how it turned out. 

Little Big Planet Sack Boys: I made these for Kate and Maya. I can now say I have knit a toy..and never have to do it again (I learned that I don't like assembling small pieces) 

Ok, Now I am officially done with 2011! Come on 2012 - I'm ready to see what you have in store :)

> Jessi

Twilight Inspired Knitting

Cassie and I and some friends are going to go see Breaking Dawn tonight - I can admit it! Who doesn't love some vampire fueled teen angst?

Here's some Twi-Mania knitting inspirations from Ravelry - maybe a Christmas present for the Twi-hard in your life - cause every family has one!

paw mitts > ravelry

cullen crest hat > ravelry

Bella's mittens > ravelry

Bella's vest > ravelry

> Jessi

Finished Project > Hogwarts Sweater

Here's my finished Hogwart's sweater. As per the norm, it took way longer than expected! I ripped each piece out at least once. I sewed the arms on inside out..twice. But it's done! My first full size sweater turned out pretty good for a beginner :)

What I Learned

- working with colour

- seaming

- triple check before seaming a piece on

- ribbing

Now what to make next??? 

 > Jessi

Knitting Inspiration

Now that my Halloween sweater is done (pics coming soon - I am just washing it!) I can think about some new projects, Here's some of my favourites from my pin board . Theses are probably way out of my league - but one can try!


What projects are you working on? have you already dived into Christmas projects?

> source

> source

> source

> jessi

Too Many Projects

I seem to be taking on too many crochet and knitting projects 

all at once and none of them are getting done :/

First, I am running out of wool for this poncho.  Thought I was stash busting now realizing I'm going to be way short.  That means I'm discouraged and don't want to finish.

Second, I really need a pair of slippers.  I never make patterns from the knitting magazines I buy so I'm making some from this issue of Knit Simple.  Simple? Yes, but also boring! So not much progress there...

Third, this sweater.  I already hate it and I'm looking for a new pattern so I can frog all this out.  I totally sized it wrong and the "ladies" will never fit in there lol

Fourth, these hexa-grannys.  Maybe someday will be an afghan?  Maybe will sit infinitely at the bottom of my knitting basket? Who knows, but I haven't touched them in months.

>Cassie

Cleaning Out My Knitting Bag

While searching through the chaos that is my knitting bag, I decided it needed to be cleaned out - here's a little peek at all I had crammed in there.

1. one fingerless glove

2. random wool remains

3 patterns and empty cell phone case

4. I missed 4 :)

5. tape measures, pom pom makers, stitch markers

6.bag for holding above pieces - obviously it's empty...

7. diapers that are too small for Lily now

8. tangled nest of needles

9. never ending cardigan 

10. 1st knitting project - scarf , and dish cloth

11. random kids clothes

12. wool for someday making a second fingerless glove

I took most of it out and now I can actually find things in there - and on a happy note I found $15 in change floating around the bottom!

> Jessi

New Project > Halloween Costume

We usually have a good size Halloween party - and this year it's themed and I get to knit part of my costume (fingers crossed I can get it done in time - It's my first grown up size project!) Can you guess the theme?

> Jessi

Knitting Project > Cardigan

I finally finished my never ending cardigan! For something so small I can't believe it took me so long! I'm glad despite some setbacks with it that I stuck with it and finished it though. And obviously Lily loves it and wears it all the time...and by love I mean cries everytime I try to get it on her :)

What I learned: 

- Seed stitch

- Raglan knitting

- Never use Lion Brand patterns again

I've started my next project that I will share soon - I'm excited because it's part of my Halloween costume!

> Jessi

Knitting Fail

I have been working on this sweater for like ever , and couldn't figure out why it was taking so long. Finally someone took a look and we figured out I'd been only increasing 4 each row instead of the 8 I was supposed to be.... so months of hard work were pulled out :( 

BEFORE

AFTER

But on the bright side I will probably do it a lot quicker this time around, and I had a few small mistakes that were bothering me anyway

> Jessi